Art Trails vs Open Calls

Dates for your diaries:

Wonky Wheel Spring Exhibition 19th April -31st May

Old Leigh Artist Market 5th May

Two Tree Gallery 24th May-26th June

Dominion: the other Summer Exhibition 30th May -1st June

Brentwood Art Trail 31st May-28th June

When the summer months arrive, I find there is often a dilemma. The dilemma is where to focus your attention.

Opportunities arise throughout the year, but the summer months are often those that have art trails.

In a previous post, I have outlined the issues arising from participating in trails. But there are issues arising from exhibiting in galleries too.

So what’s best?

That really does depend on what you want out of your art.

Is it a business?

Is it just somewhere where you can be part of an art community?

Some art trail obviously give you the opportunity to do both.

This year has been somewhat different for me.

I have been involved in the organisation of a new venture Right Hemisphere and this has taken up a considerable amount of my time.

So I’ve been a little less focused on my own pursuit of artistic goals. However that doesn’t mean that I will pass up any chance to get my work out to a wider audience.

Although my focus is on galleries and exhibitions, I am very keen on engaging with art collectors in person. And the biannual event of Old Leigh Artist Market is one of those invaluable opportunities. Not only that, but it’s a really enjoyable event.

That therefore means that this event is factored into the calendar.

But there are other ways of engaging with those who maybe interested in what you create.

So that’s where open calls become a draw.

Ok, so what is an open call and how do they work? Forgive me those of you who are fully aware of them but….

An open call, is where an organisation, often a gallery asks for submissions of artists work. These are sometimes based around a theme and often involve a fee to submit. There is no guarantee that your work will be selected. Therefore a strategic approach to where and when you apply is necessary. Otherwise it could cost a small fortune and you may not be successful in being selected.

Therefore, careful research and planning is a necessity. As I have learnt to my cost.

A few pointers to whether this is for you.

Have you researched the types of art work that the gallery/organisation usually show?

Do you know anything about the location of the venue?

Can you transport your work there? Some call outs are international.

Do you have the time and money to apply to numerous open calls?

But mostly, are you prepared for rejection? This is sometimes the hardest bit. The art we create is personal to us. It’s no wonder, therefore, that we can feel deeply hurt if we get a refusal.

Of course, there are other ways of getting work out there to a potential audience.

One of these ways is to hire a space for a limited time.

Again, be careful what venue you chose to do this in. All of the aspects that are relevant to open calls also apply to gallery spaces.

And of course, there is another option…find a group of like minded artists and form a collective.

You can do so much of the work yourself. But be aware of time and financial commitments.

We are doing just this with Right Hemisphere

I hope this has been of some value to you and I really hope that some of you might just make it to some of my up coming events.

But most of all hoping that this summer is a productive, enjoyable and successful one in whichever way you wish it to be.